Scientists Discover Gene Behind Brain Development

Key gene for the development of human brain has been discovered by scientists.

The study shows how mutations in the gene called USP9X are linked to intellectual disability.

About Brain Tumor
Brain tumors are the abnormal growth of brain cells that may be benign or metastatic. Brain tumors account for about 2.4% of all the tumor diagnosesandare most challenging due to their critically delicate location.

These mutations - inheritable from one generation to the next - are believed to cause disruptions to normal brain cell functioning.

By looking at patients with severe learning and memory problems, scientists discovered this particular gene that is involved in creating this base network of nerve cells.

"The USP9X gene has shed new light on the mysteries of brain development and disability," said Lachlan Jolly from the University of Adelaide.

Quiz on Brain
The human brain is exquisitely intrinsic and is the seat of all emotions. If you are curious about what makes you bad, sad, silly or glad this quiz on the brain will satiate you.

"Disorders that cause changes to this network of cells, such as intellectual disabilities, epilepsy and autism, are hard to understand, and treat," he added.

USP9X controls both the initial generation of the nerve cells from stem cells, and also their ability to connect with one another and form the proper networks.

Foetus Brain Mapping Holds Promise for Disease Research
A high-resolution map of gene activity in a human foetus brain has been unveiled by researchers on Wednesday, which could lead to better understanding of developmental disorders, said researchers.

The findings would be crucial to understand how the brain develops and how it is altered in individuals with brain disorders.

By learning more about genes such as USP9X, scientists may create new opportunities to understand brain disorders at a much deeper level than currently known, he added.

Baker's Yeast Helps Fight Brain Disease
Baker's yeast provides new insights into the understanding of the basic processes involved in Parkinson's disease and cancer.

The study was published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Source-IANS